Loop Head Peninsula makes top five Irish holiday destinations

THE Loop Head peninsula has beaten off competition from more than 1,400 entries from all over Ireland to be named in the final five of The Irish Times Best Place to Holiday in Ireland competition.

The other finalists still in the running to be named Ireland’s favourite holiday spot are Derry City; Inishbofin, County Galway; Killarney, County Kerry and the Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary. The winning place will be announced in The Irish Times next Monday.

The entry for Loop Head peninsula was submitted by Mary Redmond. Speaking about the area, she said, “Beautiful, wild and unspoilt … with three beaches, the wonderful cliff walk in Kilkee and Loop Head walk at the lighthouse, the ruins of Carrigaholt Castle and the coastal drive with its islands and cliffs. The beach in Kilkee is very safe for families and there is a water sports club, diving, snorkelling, cycling tours, walking tours, wildlife walks, bird watching and angling.”

The competition is being judged by a panel of four national experts from different walks of life comprising Eamon Ryan, leader of the Green Party, tourism entrepreneur and former minister; Margaret Jeffares, founder of the Good Food Ireland initiative and tourism entrepreneur; Rosita Boland, Irish Times journalist and author of A Secret Map of Ireland and Steve McPhilemy, Derry-based hostel owner and tour guide with Paddywagon Tours.

The winning holiday destination will be named The Best Place to Holiday in Ireland. The winner will then be featured in full in the newspaper on Saturday, June 1, with photographs and interviews with the people and businesses that make the place an ideal destination to visit. In addition, The Irish Times will host a celebration party in the winning holiday spot.